Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

U.S. House Finds Mark Meadows in Contempt of Congress; New Data on Vaccine Effectiveness Against Omicron Expected; U.K. Tightens Covid Rules and Conservative Revolt; Building Fire Breaks Out in Busy Hong Kong District; Putin Holds Virtual Meeting with Xi; Macron to Meet with Ukraine's President in Brussels. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired December 15, 2021 - 04:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[04:00:00]

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and right around the world. I'm Isa Soares in London. And just ahead right here on CNN NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lawmakers revealing additional text message to Meadows.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Members who pleaded with the chief of staff to get the president to take action.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a day of reckoning that Mark Meadows richly deserves.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're making excuses as part of a cover up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: A significant moment in the January 6 investigation. Lawmakers vote in favor of pursuing criminal contempt charges against Donald Trump's former Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows.

Health officials warn of an Omicron variant take over that could bring another punishing COVID surge right across the United States.

And we are following breaking news out of Hong Kong this hour. Dozens of people are trapped on the roof of a high-rise after a fire broke out.

ANNOUNCER: Live from London, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Isa Soares.

SOARES: Welcome, everyone. It is Wednesday, December 15th, and we begin on Capitol Hill where just hours ago the House voted to hold Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress. Meadows is refusing to comply with the subpoena issued by January 6 committee investigating the Capitol riots. The vote fell mostly along party lines with only two Republicans voting with the Democrats. The Justice Department will now decide whether to pursue criminal charges against Meadows. Republicans say the committee is going after Meadows to advance their political agenda against Donald Trump. But Republican Liz Cheney disagrees. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): All of these texts are non-privileged. They are texts that Mr. Meadows has turned over, and they are evidence of President Trump's supreme dereliction of duty for 187 minutes, and Mr. Meadows' testimony will bear on another fundamental question before this committee. And that is whether Donald J. Trump, through action or inaction, corruptly sought to obstruct or impede Congress's official proceeding to count electoral votes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: And remember Meadows is the second Trump official to face such a referral from the panel. CNN's Ryan Nobles has all the details for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN NOBLES, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is official the House of Representatives has now voted out a referral of criminal contempt of Congress of former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Of course, Meadows not only a former White House chief of staff. He's also a former member of the United States House of Representatives. So, this is a pretty unprecedented move by this body.

Now, this will now be in the hands of the Department of Justice which will decide whether or not to prosecute this case. The vote came largely along party lines, 222 votes to move it forward, 208 votes against. Only two Republicans this time around voting in the affirmative, and that is Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, both members of the January 6 Select Committee.

That number has dropped significantly since the last time there was a criminal contempt referral question from the select committee in front of the Congress where a number of Republicans did vote for the referral of Steve Bannon. Now, the question is just where does this put the committee in terms of gleaning any information from Mark Meadows?

[04:05:00]

It seems unlikely now that they are going to be able to get what they are looking for.

Meadows at one point appeared to be willing to cooperate with the committee. He even handed over 6,000 documents that amounted to some 9,000 pages worth of information. And over the past couple of days the committee has been releasing dribs and drabs of that content, text messages that Meadows received, some from members of Congress, some from members of the press, from White House officials that were leading up to and around the events of January 6. They say it shows that Meadows has intimate and detailed information about the decisions that were made not only on January 6, but in the time leading up to it, and in particular, the efforts by the Trump administration to peddle false claims about the November election. So, this is now in the hands of the Department of Justice. It took

them several weeks to decide whether or not to move ahead with the prosecution and indictment of Steve Bannon. This is a bit more of a complicated situation. Because Meadows, unlike Bannon, was actually working in the executive branch at the time. But the committee believes these still have a strong case because Bannon did and over all those documents which they want to ask questions about. He wrote a book, where he detailed private conversations with the former president.

So, they believe they are on firm ground. And now the committee will continue to move forward with their work. They have vowed that they will use every tool they have available to them to get to the bottom of what happened on January 6.

Ryan Nobles, CNN on Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Well, as Ryan reported there, the January 6 committee is revealing more of the text messages Mark Meadows handed over before stonewalling. One text reveals a conversation to overthrow the presidential election results. Here's House Democrat Jamie Raskin with this evidence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD): On November 4th, a member of this body wrote to Meadows, here's an aggressive strategy. One day after the election, why can't the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and other Republican-controlled statehouses declare this is B.S. where conflicts in election not called that night, and just send their own electors to vote and have it go to the Scotus.

REP. ZOE LOFGREN (D-CA): Plead also to ask him about text messages which he provided to our committee that show an official in Georgia texting Mr. Meadows during the Trump/Raffensperger call saying that they, quote, need to end this call, unquote. And emphasizing, quote, I don't think this will be a productive -- will be productive much longer, end quote. We need to talk to Mr. Meadows about that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Well, she's referring there, of course, to a phone call in 2020 when then President Donald Trump pressed Georgia Secretary of State to find the votes needed to overturn results showing Joe Biden had won the state. Well, that call and the texts tied to it have emerged as significant areas of interest to the January 6th commission.

Phone company Verizon, the January 6 committee are being sued by conservative lawyer John Eastman. Court documents show it is over subpoenas for his phone records. Now, Eastman says the subpoena violates his fourth amendment rights. For some background, Eastman worked on Trump's legal team. He outlined in a memo how then Vice President Mike Pence could throw out election results and keep Trump in office. We'll, of course, have much more on the January 6 investigation later this hour, in about 20 minutes or so from now.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is being dealt another blow in his bid to keep his tax records -- returns from Congress. A federal judge has ruled that the Treasury Department can disclose the records to a House committee that requested them more than two years ago. The Treasury Department during the Trump administration resisted releasing returns. The judge has given Trump 14 days to appeal.

Now, a sobering marker for the U.S. in the battle against coronavirus. The country now crossing 800,000 confirmed deaths since the pandemic began. Now, the Delta variant is still the biggest driver of cases for now -- as you can see there. But Dr. Anthony Fauci says that will change. And what's still unclear, though, however, is how severe the infections will be. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Whether it's inherently less pathogenic as a virus or whether there's more protection in the community. We're just going to have to see when it comes in the United States. And for sure, Jim, it is going to be dominant in the United States given its doubling time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Now Dr. Fauci stresses that vaccines are still the best way to prevent severe infection. A new study illustrates just how it estimates that vaccines have prevented more than 1 million COVID deaths and over 10 million hospitalizations in the United States.

[04:10:00]

Meanwhile, new data from the National Institutes of Health on how effective vaccines are against the Omicron variant is expected to be released later today. Dr. Fauci says it will mostly confirm what has come from other countries. But while the variant evades some protections, booster doses bring it back up.

Now, Minnesota is among a growing number of U.S. states once again rippling with hospitals filling up -- as you can see on the chart. Doctors there are sounding the alarm pleading for people to get vaccinated and take other precautions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. RAHUL KORANNE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MINNESOTA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION: We are running out of words to describe the crisis that we are seeing here in Minnesota and across the U.S. I's t's a true crisis, and now we are invoking our heart. You know, I'm a physician, and so many of the health care heroes came to this industry because it's a calling. So, we are saying, our heart is aching. Our beds are full. Our emergency departments are full. Our hallways have patients in them, some on breathing machines. And at this point, our care capacity is stretched to the very limits.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: A warning there from that doctor. Well, other institutions are also seeing the COVID surge following the University of shutdowns on campus after reporting more than 900 COVID cases in just one week. And just as students are heading home for the winter break. Now the Ivy League school says a very high percentage of the cases are the Omicron variant in fully vaccinated individuals. Some of them even received a booster dose. Thankfully they haven't seen any severe illnesses in students yet. Cornell says about 97 percent of people on campus are fully vaccinated.

And COVID-19 is also wreaking havoc on the world of professional sports. In the U.S. at least 65 National Football League players have tested positive for the virus in the past two days and are now in the COVID protocol. And the National Hockey League, at least nine games will need to be rescheduled following COVID outbreaks among the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders.

And here in the U.K., a victory for British Prime Minister Johnson in the fight against the fast-spreading -- as we just pointed out -- coronavirus. But it comes at a potentially high political cost. Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in support of his new restrictions, including mask mandates, work from home orders, and COVID passports.

But the embattled leader is facing a stinging backlash from members of his own Conservative Party, many of whom voted against the new rules. Some called the measures draconian and talked openly about a challenge to his leadership.

Joining me for more is CNN's Salma Abdelaziz who's been covering the story for us all week. And Salma, you and I were talking about it yesterday in terms of the rebellion, the numbers much higher those who voted against him. That took many by surprise. Probably the Prime Minister, too, who was trying to garner support ahead of this vote.

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Nearly 100 conservative MPs. I mean, that is a big backlash. And up until the last minute, like literally the last hour before the vote, the Prime Minister was sitting with those backbenchers trying to convince them. He obviously wasn't able to. And what is politics without the power of persuasion? So, if Boris Johnson can't convince his own party, can't convince his own MPs to push through measures that he desperately needs, look, that's an issue.

SOARES: Explain to our viewers right around the world who might be scratching their heads right now, as to why members of his own party won't support COVID passports that we're seeing right across Europe.

ABDELAZIZ: Well, I mean, for these Conservative MPs -- and it is important to separate these two issues. These Conservative MPs see these restrictions as a step as too far for government, an authoritarian move, as curbing civil liberties. It's something that is simply un-British, untraditional, something that shouldn't happen in this country. You speak to health experts, you speak to doctors and nurses in this country, they say these measures are absolutely necessary.

Omicron is on the rise at a phenomenal rate. It puts a risk to the health system. But the bottom line, if you're looking the bigger political picture here, is that Prime Minister Boris Johnson for the last two years since he took office has been seen as a winner, as a leader, as the person who can get stuff done. Now he seems to be losing that reputation, Isa. And being able to defy the Prime Minister, that means they don't think he's that winner any more.

SOARES: And that's it. And the fear is if you go to plan C, he will need to go back to Parliament and need their support again.

ABDELAZIZ: And that's the big fear. Separate of Boris Johnson's political future, we are a country very much in the grip of a variant right now. If more restrictions are needed and you heard about that doubling time, how quickly these cases rise, and, yes, the authorities are trying to push out booster jabs as fast as they can. But you don't have that full layer of protection across the country. You have these cases rising so quickly. Look, if the Prime Minister needs more restrictions, he's going to have to do it without his party.

SOARES: Well, I'm getting my booster on Thursday. I'm very excited. Salma, thank you very much.

Still to come right here on the show, an update, of course, on the breaking news out of Hong Kong that we told you the top of the hour. Dozens of people are said to be stuck after a fire broke out in a high-rise building.

[04:15:00]

We have that live from Hong Kong next.

And then a virtual meeting between the leaders of Russia and China. What's on their agenda? Do stay right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: Now, we are following breaking news out of Hong Kong where a fire inside the city's World Trade Center has left about 150 people trapped on the roof of the building. Rescue operations are ongoing, but the fire is said to be under control. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout joins us now live with the latest. And Kristie, this is incredibly worrying. What more are you hearing this hour?

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is what we're learning right now. Here in Hong Kong, firefighters have managed to rescue hundreds of people after a fire broke out in the high-rise commercial building here in the city. At one point earlier today just a couple of hours ago, 350 people were trapped at the rooftop of this building. We have learned since that over 1,200 people have been evacuated. No one is on the roof of this building.

The building is called the World Trade Center Tower. It is located in the Wan Chai district of Hong Kong, at Causeway Bay, a very busy and popular commercial district. [04:20:00]

Again, the rescue operation is winding down. Authorities are reporting over 1,200 people have been evacuated already. There have been injuries, though. 13 people injured, one male, 12 female, among them a woman in her 50s or 60s who was evacuated and seen in a semi-conscious state.

This building, it is a multi-use commercial block. It's an office tower. It's a shopping center. There are also a number of restaurants there. The fire broke out around lunchtime 12:37 p.m. local time. It was caused according to authorities by a switchboard malfunction. It was located on the first floor, and then the fire spread.

Now, CNN has had crews there on the scene surveying the scene, taking footage like the footage you're seeing on your screen right now, talking to eyewitnesses as well as evacuees. I want you to listen to this. Her name is Winnie Yeun.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How do you feel after getting out of the fire?

WINNIE YEUN, EVACUEE: I took the lift in time, but not more no more people tell me about the fire, but now I do thank you very much for the God I am safe. No more people tell me. Thank you. I'm safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: Winnie Yeun is one of 1,259 people evacuated today by Hong Kong firefighters after this fire broke out in the World Trade Center building. The fire is out. The rescue operation is winding down. Back to you, Isa.

SOARES: The firefighters getting so many people out. Kristie Lu Stout for us in Hong Kong. Thank you, Kristie.

STOUT: You're welcome.

SOARES: Now to the virtual summit between the leaders of Russia and China, Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping are meeting on a video call before holding talks. The Kremlin say the two will be discussing, quote, aggressive U.S. and NATO rhetoric. Mr. Putin spoke Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron where he demanded guarantees on curbing NATO expansion to the east. That coming ahead of Mr. Macron's meeting later today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels. It comes amid, of course, tensions over Russia's military buildup along Ukraine's border.

CNN's correspondents are tracking both those meetings. Frederik Pleitgen is in Berlin covering those virtual talks I was telling you about. Cyril Vanier is in Paris ahead of Mr. Macron's meeting with Ukraine's President. Good morning to you both. Fred, let me start with you. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin meeting virtually, and I believe this is their second meeting which really just shows, Fred, this solidarity between Beijing and Moscow. What has come out of this meeting so far? FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The

solidarity between Beijing and Moscow and certainly also the personal relationships between Vladimir Pu's tin and Xi Jinping, both of them are saying that they are not only obviously colleagues, but they also consider each other to be friends. They consider themselves to be friends, and it's something Vladimir Putin has said in the past.

So, certainly you can see that both of these countries are demonstrating that they are very close to one another diplomatically, and as far as their relations are concerned. But of course, Isa, both of these countries also right now very much challenging the United States and the Biden administration.

Russia, of course, with those troops amassing there close to the Ukrainian border. But then also the Chinese as far as Taiwan is concerned, and some of the moves, the military moves that China has made there. Now both of them very eager to demonstrate to that very close relationship.

In fact, Vladimir Putin has already said in his opening segment that he gave, and which was actually on a live stream, that Russia will not be participating in the U.S.'s political boycott of the Beijing Olympics. In fact, Vladimir Putin says he will be very happy to attend the opening ceremony and meet with Xi Jinping there. Vladimir Putin then went on to say that he considers the relations between China and Russia to be a role model of inter-state relations in the 21st century.

So, you can clearly see that these two nations, these two leaders, who, of course, have been vastly criticized, not just by the United States, but also by many of the U.S.'s allies, very much demonstrating how important they are to one another.

And, of course, the other thing that is probably going to come out of the summit is that those relations will become even deeper in an economic since and in a diplomatic sense. But also -- and this is something to keep an eye on as well, Isa -- in a military sense as well. One of the things we've seen in the past couple year is that more and more of these large-scale Russian military maneuvers have also encompassed Chinese troops as well. So, clearly a show of force by these two leaders and a show of unity as well -- Isa.

SOARES: Very important point there from Fred. Stay with us, Fred. Let me go to Cyril. Cyril, this meeting between Zelensky and Macron, I'm guessing Zelensky will be looking, Cyril, for some sort of promise or guarantee that the French will help protect Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty given the rising tensions. What are you hearing could come out of this here?

[04:25:00]

CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, he will get that guarantee, Isa, no doubt. I mean, the Europeans have been aligned on a robust support for Ukraine's territorial integrity a long time now. President Macron reiterated that during his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. So, the Europeans are very much on Ukraine's side here.

Now, what does that mean, right, support for Ukraine's territorial integrity? Do not expect to see France pledge French troops, right, send French troops to Ukraine in the event of Russian aggression. Let alone European troops. The Europeans and the French in particular who are leading the diplomatic format along with Germany and the talks with Ukraine and Russia, what they want to do as they put it, they are in deterrence mode. They want to prevent any aggression by Russia on Ukraine from taking place at all.

And their main weapon to do that has been to warn Russia that it will face severe economic consequence if it is -- if it engages in hostile action towards Ukraine. So, they're trying to prevent all of this from happening in the first place, Isa. That I think really is the heart of the matter here and that I think is what you're going to hear Emmanuel Macron reiterate today.

SOARES: Cyril Vanier for us in Paris, Fled Pleitgen, on two separate meetings that are in many ways related, given the rise in geopolitical tensions. Thank you to you both.

Still ahead right here on the show, an organizer of the January 6 rally in Washington, D.C. is speaking out about the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Why he now says he feels betrayed by former President Trump.

The U.K.'s red list of COVID travel restrictions no longer applies to 11 African countries. We'll have reaction from Johannesburg next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Isa Soares. If you're just joining us, let me bring you up to date with our top stories this hour.